CVE-2017-9267 in eDirectory
Summary
by MITRE
In Novell eDirectory before 9.0.3.1 the LDAP interface was not strictly enforcing cipher restrictions allowing weaker ciphers to be used during SSL BIND operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9267 affects Novell eDirectory versions prior to 9.0.3.1 and represents a significant weakness in the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol implementation that undermines the security of SSL/TLS communications. This flaw specifically impacts the LDAP interface where cipher restrictions are not properly enforced, allowing adversaries to establish connections using weaker cryptographic algorithms than intended. The vulnerability resides in the SSL BIND operations where the system fails to validate and enforce strong cipher suites, creating an avenue for potential man-in-the-middle attacks and credential interception. Organizations relying on Novell eDirectory for directory services and authentication are particularly at risk as this weakness directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of directory communication channels.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the LDAP interface's SSL/TLS handshake process. When clients attempt to bind to the directory service using SSL, the system should enforce strict cipher suite restrictions to ensure only strong cryptographic algorithms are utilized. However, the vulnerability allows weaker ciphers to be negotiated and accepted, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. This misconfiguration creates a downgrade attack vector where malicious actors can force the use of weak ciphers such as those employing weak key lengths or outdated encryption algorithms. The flaw operates at the protocol level during the initial authentication phase, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited before any application-level security measures are engaged.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9267 extends beyond simple cryptographic weakness to encompass potential credential compromise and unauthorized access to directory services. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can intercept and potentially decrypt directory authentication traffic, gaining access to user credentials and sensitive directory information. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable lateral movement within networks where directory services are used for authentication. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Novell eDirectory serves as a central authentication point, as successful exploitation could lead to widespread access to critical systems and data. The impact is amplified by the fact that this vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to network resources.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Novell eDirectory 9.0.3.1 or later versions that contain the necessary patches to enforce strict cipher restrictions. System administrators should also configure the LDAP interface to explicitly disable weak cipher suites and enforce the use of strong cryptographic algorithms such as those supporting AES-256 with RSA or elliptic curve key exchange. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Novell eDirectory installations and ensure proper cipher suite configuration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327 which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1075 for legitimate credentials and T1566 for credential access through network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to validate that cipher restrictions are properly enforced and that no legacy configurations are allowing weak cryptographic protocols to persist.